Cable-grip.



T. HALL.

CABLE GRIP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1914.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Amen/0r Thomas/? THOMAS HALL, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

CABLE-GRIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed AprillO, 1914. Serial No. 831,098.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improve: ments in Cable-Grips, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of same.

This invention relates to improvements in wire compressors, and the object is to provide a simple, durable and efficient machine for compressing or gripping the cables used in warping or guiding vessels through canals or the like.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which the cable gripping members are interchangeable or reversible, so that the device may be operated at a minimum of expense.

The device consists essentially of a frame comprising two parts hingeably connected at one edge, and provided at the opposite edge with clamping means. Grooved plates are inserted in this frame to grip the cables.

In the drawings which illustrate the inventionz-Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates an elongated base strengthened by side flanges 6 and provided with upwardly projecting end plates 7. This base may be attached along the bank of a waterway or to the deck of a vessel if desired by means of bolts passing through lugs 8. A rod 9 is supported by theends 7 a suitable distance above the base, and holds the clamp which rests slidably on the foundation between the side flanges, so that the rod 9 serves only to hold the clamp to the base. Heavy springs 10 surround the rod 9 between each end of the clamp and the ends of the base 7 so that the clamp is permitted to have a slight sliding movement. These springs act as shock absorbers and relieve the various parts of sudden stresses.

The clamp comprises lower and upper members 11 and 12 respectively, provided on their upper and lower surfaces respectively with pockets 13 for the reception of the clamping plates 14. The lower clamp member is of suiiicient depth to support the gripping plate carried thereby above the rod 9, while the upper clamp member is only of sufiicient size to hold the gripping plate. These two members are secured together along one edge by means of a very strong hinge structure 15. At the opposite side, the lower clamp member is provided with lugs 16 between which one end of a strong clamping bolt 17 is pivotally mounted, said bolt being movable into and out of engagement be tween jaws 18 on the upper clamp member. The upper end of this clamping bolt is threaded and provided with a nut 19 having large extending handles 20, so that the nut may be screwed down without the necessity of using a special tool.

The clamping plates 14 are preferably of soft iron or other metal, and are each provided with longitudinal grooves 21 on both sides. These grooves are substantially semicircular in cross section, so that when the two plates are brought together, a cable inserted in the grooves may be very tightly gripped without deforming the same. Access to the ends of these grooves is obtained through an opening 22 in each end of the clamp, and formed partly in the upper and partly in the lower portion thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In order to hold the gripping plate in the upper clamp member, the plate is provided with a suitable number of threaded apertures 23 in which cap screws or the like 24 passing through the upper clamp member engage. As these apertures 23 are formed entirely through each plate, the plates may be interchanged, turned upside down, or end for one.

The operation of the lows :-VVhen a vessel is to be guided through a waterway, a wire cable is passed from the vessel to the shore, the clamp is opened, as shown in'Fig. 3, and the cable placed in the grooves and the clamp closed, by turning the nut, the grip of the plates 14 on the cable may be regulated so that the speed of the cable can be controlled or the cable locked altogether. Each plate may be, if desired, provided with grooves of various sizes so as to accommodate different sizes of cables. When the plates become worn by continued use, they may be turned over or end for end, or the upper and lower plates interchanged if one plate shows more wear than the other.

device is as fol- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2- V 1. A device of the character described, comprising a framework, a clamp slidable and resiliently mounted thereon, and interchangeable and reversible grooved plates mounted therein.

. 2. A device of the character described, comprising a framework, a clamp slidable and resiliently mounted thereon, and plates mounted in said clamp having longitudinal grooves in both sides thereof, said grooves being substantially semi-circular in cross section.

3. In a device of the character described, a base, a rod supported thereby, a clamp resting on the base and slidable on said rod, shock absorbing means between the ends of the clamp and the ends of the base, and ina resiliently mounted terchangeable longitudinally grooved gripping plates mounted in the members of said clamp. 4. In a device, ofthe character described, two part clamp, a gripping plate mounted in each of said clamp parts, each of said plates having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in opposite faces thereof, a threaded aperture formed entirely therethrough for the reception of attaching means inserted through the clamp parts, and plate attaching means inserted through one of said clamp parts.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS HALL.

\Vitnesses S. R. W'. ALLEN, G. M. MORELAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. 7

Washington, D. G. 

